Re: What happened to CL bands/musicians Pt.4?

Apex NC

Description

As someone who got started in music back in the 1960s, played professionally and semi professionally into my 50s, I'm now 72, I'll throw my thoughts in regarding older musicians and gigs vs jams for strictly fun from a Rock n Roll point of view..... The local club scene, from what I've seen, in the NY tri state area, Florida and here around Raleigh is best left to the younger guys. The best venues; enthusiastic crowds, good sized stages, pro level earnings and a sense of "something cool is happening", are now and have always been, suited for younger bands/ folks who stay up late, drink too much, spend a lot of money and Rock! If a band of older guys gets good local gigs, its usually private work, which usually means playing commercially slanted music and "fitting in". If that's you, great. Not for me at this stage or anyone who "played the game" for many years, who still likes to crank the amp and slap the plank. Billy Gibbons is my hero! :-) Walking into a bar and seeing REALLY old guys, some sitting down ( nothing worse), playing tired Rock n Roll to other older folks who rarely stay out past 9pm in a half empty room, is a downer frankly. I'm sure they don't want my pity, but honestly.... Don't get me wrong, there are super talented older musicians out and about ( and I still wonder what they are thinking...) but for the most part they look/sound like guys pretending it's 1970...... older guys playing "age appropriate" mellow to moderate music is fine if that's your thing. I'm talking Rock n Roll which is what most CL posts are about.. Myself, I enjoy getting out of the house and playing Rock n Roll/Blues Rock music ( not age appropriate... LOL ) within a band context without the venue trappings. I'm totally selfish.:-) Compromise to work in dumps where at my age, I don't belong, is not appealing. I seek out good players with similar interests ( admittedly hard to find) with a good rehearsal room and "rock til I drop." After a long search, I have been lucky to find guys. It can a transient scene but who cares? It's a no BS scene. When the band clicks, it's great, that elusive, often imaginary "crowd" isn't necessary. Guys that need an audience "to get into it"? Look in a mirror and take a long, realistic look around the room....... I get a chance to rip in a casual, clean environment. All I ask is guys show up, LOL, play in tune and in time and learn the material. If you think you want to gig, don't waste my and your time. Not everyone has pro chops, especially at my age, but a willingness to learn and be at least at a competent level is all that I require from the guys to have a good time with the band. At my age, there are no dreams of Rock stardom. Being the hottest band in town is meaningless, and at my age, un-realistic. Who am I impressing? The groupies were a LONG time ago.:-) Having a hangover is a thing of the past. I don't need the miserly wage from local bars. It's insulting to anyone who has paid their dues and has talent... Packing the car, driving to the gig, playing 3 or 4 sets in front of boring patrons for pathetic pay, loading the car and driving home. Fun? Musically satisfying?... just one guy's opinion...